AUGUST 2009 Contents Coming Soon - Brooklands

NO. 329 AUGUST 2009 Contents Coming Soon - Brooklands

Events...... 2 ell, by the time you all read this month’s Journal, the biggest Letters...... 9 Wslot car event of the year should be only a week or two away, Chairman’s chat...... 10 assuming that the printing schedule I have planned is met? Messages from Margate....11 I don’t know about all of you out there but personally I am Shipments from Spain...... 14 looking forward to this event and I just hope that the weather is kind Hornby Rover 3500...... 17 on the day, to reflect the efforts of all those people who have taken WyeValley Ralley...... 20 part in the organising of this event, not to mention all those Carrera Corner...... 24 stallholders large and small who are planning to attend the SCX Review...... 27 accompanying swapmeet. Team Ireland A1 Car...... 32 I know many people are not as fortunate as me, living only down Kits ‘N’ Bobs...... 34 the road so to speak to this event (and Epsom previously), but with 3rd Summer Classic...... 36 the opportunity to attend the museum on the Saturday, there is no Forza Slot.It...... 39 reason not to make a weekend of it and attend with your family. Ninco News...... 42 There have been the adverts in the Journal now for a few months NSCC Accounts...... 44 and last month the planned activities were covered in detail by both Fibre glass Car...... 45 Peter, our Chairman and Sean Fothersgill of Pendle Slot Racing. Ebay Watch...... 47 As you will see later in the Journal we appear to still be Members Adverts...... 49 considerably short of volunteers for the record attempt to recreate the original track and I hope those that attend will also put Editor themselves up to take part, especially when you consider you maybe Jeremy Naylor on T.V, albeit briefly, so please do get in touch with Peter, to put 8 Lindsay Close yourself forward. Epsom The other thing I am particularly looking forward to, is the Surrey issuing of the new NSCC Club car, which will be first available at KT19 8JJ Brooklands, so I’ll be getting mine then along with fellow NSCC Tel/Fax:- 01372 200 435 member and the brother in law, who will also be attending with me, e-mail:- [email protected] so Peter there is potentially another two volunteers for the record attempt? Trade Advertising Adrian Leggett Finally, before I go, I do hope to meet some of you at this event. Roseville For the last six months or so as editor, I have exchanged numerous Westwood Lane emails with both committee and ordinary members some of who I Normandy have not actually met but that I feel I now know so well, so if you Guildford are there please say hello, I’ll be the chap in the raincoat carrying a Surrey copy of the Times and wearing a red carnation...... ? GU3 2JG So until next month Tel:- 07773 967 333 Jeremy between 09:00 - 18:00 01483 810 102 evenings e-mail:- [email protected]

August 2009 1 Dear Jeremy, Dear Jeremy, Further to Paul’s article in last month’s Journal I write in reply to Paul Atkin’s article on the about the Hornby Subaru, I felt it worth Hornby Subaru range last month and in mentioning that the list appears to miss a particular the missing reference to the Limited reference number for the range of cars in Edition Motorist Centre car. question. The list mentions C2531W and This car was suffix C2118 and was issued in C2491 but not C2491W. I have a twin pack Summer of 2000 as a promotional item the from an Argos set which has the two W suffixed colour being a metallic green. numbers in, being cars #7 and 8. The set I trust this helps. number is also on the box and you have that I am, yours, etc, also, being C1120. Adrian Norman The cars are # 7 - Solberg and Mills and #8 Consumer Promotions Manager - Scalextric Makinen and Lindstrom. I am, yours, etc. Dear Jeremy, Steve Baker Paul Atkin suggested that I contact you in connection with his article on the Hornby Dear Jeremy, Subaru and in particular my pre production car. I write in connection with the article on the I understand that my car is one of three pre Hornby Subaru by Paul Atkins last month. production models that are around and having Paul appears to have omitted the Limited looked at Rob Smith’s version on his website, Edition Motorist Centre car in metallic green, mine appears to have different tampo printing of which there were only 50 made. I am not sure on the sunscreen, there is 131 on my screen and of the “C” suffix number but perhaps someone back side window, the drivers names on the back else can help out on this? side window and Pirelli beneath, mine also has I am, yours, etc. wipers but no name on the back of the drivers Mally Dodgson seat. The back screen shade has Wales Rally GB whereas Rob’s appears to have Subaru. Perhaps someone could clarify this for me? I have a photograph of the car if this will help. I am, yours, etc. Richard James

2 Annual Report The recent changes of Treasurer, Editor and Membership Secretary has meant that these officers have had to put in a lot of effort to take up their roles and keep everything running smoothly. We have also changed the accounting year to finish in October. As a result, the Committee has decided that the Annual report will be produced in line with the new financial year-end. The report should be included with the December Journal. In the meantime, Shaun has produced an account for the 7 month period April to October 2008, which will fill the gap between the last complete April to March financial year (2007/ Brooklands 8) and the first of the new November to October his is just a quick reminder about the financial years (2008/9). Brooklands Slot Car Festival being held Please bear in mind at all times that if you Ton Sunday, 16th August. You should not have any questions or concerns about the miss this. Apart from the swapmeet, the running of the Club, all Committee members attractions of the hill climb, drag strip and will be happy to discuss them with you. We will feature race should whet the appetite of every answer any questions as well as we can and any enthusiast. You can also visit the Brooklands concerns will be discussed to see if things can be museum and see the remains of the old oval improved. track. Finally we still need more volunteers to take part in the BBC’s effort to run cars around the largest ever Scalextric track. So don’t be shy please come forward and let me know if you can help and join in.

August 2009 3 he emphasis this month has been on sets C3008W and C3009W are much more and several of them have contained interesting and are in set C1239 Need for Speed. Tunique cars albeit super resistant ones. The Nissan is finished in red with a carbon effect More and more sets are containing super- bonnet and roof, which is quite effective. The resistant cars and this has two benefits for Lamborghini is white with matt black bonnet, Hornby and customers. Firstly it keeps the cost roof and engine colour. Both have Need for of the sets lower and secondly the first Speed graphics and strangely, the same experience of more junior racers isn’t spoiled by registration number, ND4SPD. I’m sure that the cars being destroyed in the first five minutes. there is a law against that! The Nissan has a drift In the current economic climate we can expect chassis but comes with the guide locating screws lots more super resistant cars in the future. fitted and is therefore not DPR. However the Lamborghini has a standard chassis and is DPR! C2996W Lamborghini Gallardo Blue C3016W Porsche 997 Red C3008W Nissan 350Z Need For Speed C3009W Lamborghini Gallardo

C3018 Dodge Viper Competition Coupe G.S.Racing No.21 The latest Dodge Viper is green, white and dark blue which looks quite eye catching. Need For Speed C2996W and C3016 are in set C1243 C2982 Aston Martin DBS Top Gear Speed Stars. The Lamborghini is in a pleasing This Aston Martin is the first of three Top blue colour with a white flash down the side and Gear cars this year, which feature a white suited the Porsche is bright red with GT3RS in white and helmeted driver and Top Gear rear number down the side and white wheels. plate. The packaging is heavily Top Gear ➳

4 branded too. The good news is that the car is in this is not the case. Much of the production is a unique colour of dark grey - a genuine Aston changing factory in China and we can soon Martin colour called Tungsten Silver. expect loads of new releases. Work on cars scheduled for later in the year or even next year C2978 Jaguar XKR GT3 Apex Racing is well underway. At last we have a brand new model this year For instance, the McLaren Mercedes SLR and it is the excellent Jaguar XKR GT3. The 722 racer is coming on nicely. Originally car ran in the 2008 FIA GT3 European scheduled for 2009 it was postponed until 2010 Championship run by Apex Motorsport. very early on in the year. This is not an existing Although they have an entry for 2009 they don’t SLR with a big wing on the back. The body seem to appear in the results anywhere. work is hugely modified with much more flared The Scalextric model is very nicely detailed front wings and more vents in the bonnet – of with lots of both moulding and printing detail. course, there is a huge rear wing too. Of special note are the bonnet vents through The Mercedes SLR from the 1955 Le Mans which you can see the radiator and the complex car is complete. Disappointingly the rear air roll bars seen through the rear screen. There are brake is fixed in the down position as it would lots of etched metal grills at the front and nicely have been much more fun if it moved. However, detailed venturi and exhausts at the back too. it still looks great and there are lots of other modifications to the bodywork to create this Le Coming Soon Mans version. Please be careful not to hit your You would think that with this year’s release Austin Healey and fly off into a grandstand. schedule getting so far behind the guys at There will be a brand new mould for an Margate would be resting on their laurels but

August 2009 5 Australian V8 this year although I don’t know Another new set is C1241 V12 Supercars. which model this is yet. As usual they should be This contains a red Aston Martin DBS (as in the Australian shops for Christmas. C2994) but without an interior (like the James The Senna / Mansell twinpack cars are just Bond set DBS) as C3035W. The other car is a beautiful. Hornby certainly pull out all of the silver Mercedes McLaren SLR C3036W but I stops for these classic Grand Prix cars. The don’t know if this is any different from the printing on the Williams is especially nice and standard release. ■ just needs a couple of Camel logos to finish it off. Strangely, although the cigarette advertising is missing there are Labatts (beer) logos on it, Hornby have made a decision to mark the set for adult collectors (over 14) only and this allows alcohol but not fag advertising. Both the McLaren and the Williams are very wide and the guides are a long way forward. They should be very fast if anyone dares to race them. The moulding detail is very crisp and Mansell’s helmet carries detail but Senna’s doesn’t. A non-catalogue digital set is C1294 Digital Overdrive that will be for sale in independent model shops in Q3. It contains a unique pale blue Ferrari C3039DW and a red Ferrari C3038DW.

6 his months Shipment from Spain is very As mentioned there are 300 of each made short and sweet with only for the U.S.A. market with very limited numbers Tthree new products released this month, due to come to the U.K. These are as follows: although there are multiple releases of each Ref. 50660 ‘Dale Earnhardt Jr.’, “National product. Guard” #88 Chevrolet Impala. Ref. 50670 ‘Carl Edwards’, “Aflec” # 99 Ford SCX Nascar Pro Cars. Fusion. There are four New SCX Pro Spec cars Ref. 50680 ‘Kevin Harvick’, “Reese’s” #29 released this month. Initially these were destined Chevrolet Impala. for the U.S.A. market only as a special, but a Ref. 50690 ‘Jeff Burton’, “Cat” #31 Ford very limited number have made their way to the Fusion. U.K. The total worldwide production numbers Features of these new cars include are in the 300 each range, which puts them into (according to SCX press release): the very limited number category. That said it’s - The race proven Pro motor cradle design, with not an official Limited Edition so more could be extra long-can motor pod included in the kit. made at a later date. - A new chassis design to allow body float. The cars are all COT or Cars of Tomorrow. - New aluminium, set screw wheels (with new This is standard body shape adopted by all inserts) designed to be accurate models of teams and manufacturers. All the liveries shown NASCAR wheels and work with current below will be available later in the year as aftermarket NASCAR specific tyres. standard (non pro spec) liveries. - High performance 26,000 rpm balanced motor with 10-tooth pinion.

August 2009 7 brake shoe, Pro braid, small Allen wrench, long can motor cradle, and light weight interior are - Twenty-seven tooth crown gear for excellent all included in the kit. low-end power and good braking ability. By replacing the standard interior with the - Optional lightweight vacuum formed interior lightweight vacuum formed interior the serious (included in kit) to replace standard interior. slotter’s car can instantly lose 6 grams of weight. - New interior tray retaining system allows for With the advantage being that the centre of removal of standard interior and replacement gravity is lowered and cornering speed is without damaging interior mounting pegs. increased. Motor is a RX4H. - High traction, Shore 30 rear rubber tyres. Sticking with Nascar for our next batch of The common COT shape allows for the Pro releases. NASCAR chassis to be used with any SCX COT body. With 2 front body screws and 1 rear 3 New Toyota Camry Nascar. body screw the driver can decide whether to Ref. 64110 ‘Denny Hamlin’, “FedEx” # 11. allow the body to float or tighten down the body Ref. 64310 ‘Kyle Busch’, “M&M’s” # 18 (also for less body movement. SCX Digital Ref: 13980). The Pro NASCAR kit comes with a Ref. 64290 ‘Joey Logano’, “Home Depot” # standard COT body, Pro chassis and extra parts 20. for replacement after hard on-track racing or for The analogue cars feature an RX42B motor tuning to suit the drivers taste. An extra guide, in a tilting chassis. ➳

8 New Aston Martin! and say hello at my humble table at the The model is SCX Ref. 64020 being the Aston Brooklands Swapmeet on Sunday 16th August I Martin Vantage N24, ‘David Lai’, will give you an SCX flyer with a simple to enter “Cargraphics” competition for your chance to win an SCX car. This is the 4.3 Litre, 410hp, V8 Engine car There is no purchase necessary, but any that are as raced in the 2008 Aston Martin Asia Cup made will be appreciated! So I hope to see you (FIA GT4). all there and please note I’m located next to Generally the car is white overall with Scale Models. ■ stunning Orange dragon! Expect to see Rally, yes Rally liveries of this car in the future! This car features a RX42 motor in a tilting chassis. That covers all the new releases for this month, however before I go and please excuse the self-promotion, but if you happen to come

August 2009 9 TheThe HornbyHornby RRoverover 35003500 By Paul Atkins

uring the Sixties, Rover had enjoyed 1975. Unfortunately this did not do anything to considerable success with their P6 improve the patchy build quality that plagued all Dmodel. This car along with the of British Leyland cars of the time (See Top Triumph 2000 had basically created the Gear series 10 episode 7). That, along with template for the middle management car: larger quick-wearing interior materials and poor and more plush than family man’s Morris or detailing ensured that initial enthusiasm soon Ford, but not as grand as the director’s Daimler. turned to disappointment. Major restructuring As Rover and Triumph were now part of of British Leyland following the infamous Ryder Leyland cars it seemed logical that both cars Report saw the SD1 production line being would need to be replaced by a single car. David moved to the former Morris plant in Cowley in Bache was to head the design team and Spen 1981. The Solihull plant was turned over to King was responsible for the engineering, the produce Land Rover models. The hugely two had previously collaborated together on the expensive extension to Solihull that had been Range Rover. built specifically for the SD1 and Triumph The project was first code-named RT1 (for TR7as well as being paid for by the tax payer Rover Triumph Number 1) but then soon was then closed. The last Rover SD1 rolled off changed to SD1 (for Specialist Division Number the production line in February 1987. 1, the range is sometimes wrongly referred to as The Rover SD1 racing pedigree was also “SDi”) short lived, as it started racing in the British as Rover and Triumph were “put” in the Saloon Car Championship in 1980 when the new “Specialist Division” of British Leyland, the rules were changed for the largest class of new car’s design was done with simplicity of engines from only 3 litres to 3.5 litres Jeff Allam manufacture in mind, British Leyland’s and Motor magazine’s Rex Greenslade were the management ruled that substantially redesigned drivers for 1980 season and Allam gained the versions of Triumph’s six-cylinder engine were Rovers first victory at Brands Hatch. In 1981 to power the car, so Rover’s legendary V8 was Tom Walkinshaw took charge of the race team fitted into the engine bay with the the Borg and it that season won six of the eleven races Warner 65 automatic gearbox. and in 1982 won the overall class title. In 1983 The SD1 was intended to be produced in the Rover team entered the European Touring a state-of-the-art extension to Rover’s historic Car Championship along side the likes of the Solihull factory alongside the TR7. This was Jaguar XJ-S, BMW 635i and the Volvo 240 largely funded by the Government, who had Turbo. They finished in 1986 after gaining a bailed British Leyland out from bankruptcy in creditable 4th place in the manufacturer table.➳

10 The SD1 was also popular with the 1993 (catalogue 34) with what looks like a British police, particularly in V8 form. When stockpile of Police Rovers (C362). Since the end SD1 production was ceasing the police of production of the Rover model in 1996 we stockpiled a number of the cars for later use in have had the NSCC members car (C561 and the national police fleet to be introduced to the C562) with only 500 of each model produced. force throughout the late 1980s. Other Rovers worthly of note must be the Hornby released the Rover model in 1981 yellow and black chequed Track Marshals car (catalogue 22) with the Triplex sponsored (C340) which was not a limited car at the time “British Saloon Car Championship” car (C283) but is now a very difficult car to find, especially and the first of three Rover Police cars (C284), still with it’s flags. In addition, to the Marshals although the Police car in the catalogue had very car is the Australian only issue Bathurst car of little resemblance to the actual car released. The Dick Johnson (C141) although in real life this car catalogue car had a red strip running along the was a Ford Falcon. This car came as a plain body, and a light cluster that had Police written green Rover with stickers to apply or also as the on it and speakers on the side with a blue light more commonly tampo printed version, but on top. In reality this car had a yellow and blue both are very hard to find. There are also two strip along the body, and a simple light cluster versions of the Taurus/Texaco car (C384). One of two blue lights either side of a clear section. has the Texaco on the front grill as black on a In a case of the hobby mirroring real life, the white background, while the other has black on Rover continued featuring in the catalogue until a red background.

August 2009 11 The complete list of the Scalextric Rovers C330 – Race Number 1 – “Golden Wonder” – are below, unless of course you know better. White/Red C141 – Race Number 17 – Bathurst Car – C340 – Track Marshal – Yellow With Black Australia Only – Green – Version 1 With Chequers Stickers C362 – Police Patrol – White With Red Stripe C141 – Race Number 17 – Bathurst Car – & Black Chequers Australia Only – Green – Version 2 Tampo C384 – Race Number 9 – “Taurus/Texaco” – Printed White/Red – Version 1 With Texaco Black On C142 – Set Car Only (C696) – Metallic Red Red C280 – Race Number 7 – “PMG” – Blue/ C384 – Race Number 9 – “Taurus/Texaco” – White/Orange White/Red – Version 2 With Texaco Black On C283 – Race Number 12 – “Triplex” – White/ White Light Blue C561 – NSCC Members Car 1996 – Silver – C284 – Police – White With Yellow Stripe Limited To Only 500 C315 – Police “County Constabulary” – White C562 – Race Number 7 – NSCC Members Car With Red Stripe & Black Chequers 1996 – Green – Limited To Only 500 ■

12 WyeWye VValleyalley RalleyRalley SummerSummer StagesStages 20092009 By Gareth Jex t was several years ago on the return journey The clash with the British GP wasn’t a problem from my first Wye Valley Rally, somewhere either as the television was on in the bar for Ion the M4, that the seeds of the NSCC Slot those who wanted to watch. Rally GB were planted and ever since I have This year’s event was run on eight special tried to go to every Slot Rally event at Wye stages; Nemesis (MDF hill climb), Dead mans Valley, missing only one in three four years. valley (MDF Very twisty), Aberstone (Scaley Based in a social hall located at the Nevell twisty and slippy), Pembrey (Scaley), Raid Hall Hospital Abergavenny South Wales the (Ninco raid with jumps), Quarry (MDF Small club holds regular race nights every other and twisty), 3 seasons (Scaley with slippy Thursday on their 80ft Ninco club track. During the year they also hold two endurance races and two Slot Rally events open to all. The club is run by Phil Field and Phil Barry and populated by a really enthusiastic bunch of slotters. This year’s Summer Slot Rally event was held on Fathers Day and a better excuse for driving off to Wales again I could not think of!

“Dead mans valley”

sections) and the Ex NSCC Water splash. A really good mix of track brands, surfaces and types of track. Stages vary each year depending on member’s layouts and availability. There were six classes of cars to pick from and you could enter up to 4 cars; Modern, 80s Classic, Modified, Scratch built (PCS chassis only) and Super 1600/2000. The rules are very straightforward, no magnet, extra ballast is allowed, tyres from any manufacture and apart from the Modified class all parts must be stock OEM. The majority of entries are box stock and in fact many buy their cars in the morning and race them straight from the box (sans mag of course!). This is not serious top money win at all costs racing the event is very good natured “Nemesis”

August 2009 13 “ 3 Seasons” with everyone helping each other out and where required helping and advising those not experienced in slot rallying. An example of the good nature of the event is the pleasant inclusive of sons, daughters and wives at the event, which helps keep the banter polite! This year the group I was in included one Ex NSCC Watersplash of the organizers Phil Barry, Mark Craggs, his 5 year old daughter, her mum and teenager break. The remaining stages were held in the Dan. All very different levels of skill, but a really afternoon with all drivers tackling the water great group to race with. splash last to allow drying/cleaning. Stages 1-5 were run in the morning session I ran four cars in the event; an SCX Suzuki and the half time results given prior to the lunch Swift in the S1600/S2000 class, Avant Slot Peugeot 207 in the modified class, SCX Mk2 Escort in classic and a brand new SCX Lancia Delta S4 in the 80s. The swift was a well used car fitted with an RX42B motor standard tyres and a little Tarn Foundry weight were the mag used to be. The first five stages went well and I was lying in second position, but the final group of stage didn’t go as well and I dropped to 7th! The Escort did not do well, I just could not get the grip down on the back tyres but the Pug 207 was superb and a real pleasure to drive and I came 4th. The Pug was put into the Modified class along with a number of other cars like the Spirit rally cars as they are deemed just too good to compete in standard classes. The SCX Delta S4, (I used the event as a review test bench, which can be seen elsewhere in the Journal) fared well on flat stages, but struggled on tracks with elevation changes so I came 7th, but Kane Tilley managed 2nd behind a well prepared Sloter Opel Manta. ➳ Mum and daughter

14 Results Scratch Built on PCS 32 chassis; With all the stages run the Grand Prix 1st Kane Tilley – Mercedes 190 finished the results were announced: 2nd Phil Barry – Triumph TR7 Classic; 3rd Bill Charters – Ford Zodiac 1st Aidy Babber – SCX Fiat 124 2nd Chris Binley – Ninco Austin Healey 3rd Bill Charters – Reprotec Cobra

Scratch Built Winners Modified; 1st John Underwood – Fly Porsche 2nd Aidy Babber – SCX Citroën Xsara Classic Winners 3rd Russell Powers – Ninco Subaru Impreza 80s; 1st Aidy Babber – Sloter Manta 2nd Kane Tilley – SCX Delta S4 3rd Chris Greggory – Ninco Porsche Super 1600/2000; 1st Kane Tilley – Ninco Punto 2nd Don Stanley – Ninco Clio 3rd Charles Tilley – Ninco Clio

Modified Winners

Chris Binley won the NSCC sponsored competition for the fastest stages times and won an SCX NSCC Skoda club car – congratulations. My thanks to both Phils for organizing Super 1600/ 2000 Winners another excellent day, to all the club members who help set up and run the event and to the Modern; members of group A (my team) for excellent 1st Chris Binley – Ninco Mitsubishi Evo company. The next event will be in November 2nd John Underwood - Ninco Mitsubishi Evo 2009 and I urge you all to come along – there 3rd Chris Greggory - Ninco Mitsubishi Evo is space available in my car for anyone wanting a lift from Surrey. ■

August 2009 15 everal new releases from Carrera this month, so with no more ado lets launch Sinto what is here and some that are coming very soon. First up is the Volkswagen Scirocco #27296 fresh from the Nuremberg 24 hour race in a very attractive livery.

don’t have a photograph of the model yet, JGTC fans will no doubt have this on pre-order by now!

There is a Chevrolet Chevelle SS #27300, which is a very serious Pony Car and keeping the Chevelle company is a Pontiac Firebird, looking every inch the Smokey (and the bandit) film star yeeehaw! The Nissan GTR JGTC is coming but we Also announced but not yet seen is the Mercedes SLR 722 racer ideal for shaking up the GT racing ranks.

16 Finally the Capri RS2600 breaks cover and check out last month’s journal for details – I can this tin top will find many fans from both lovers confirm that slot racing IS involved in the of iconic Touring cars and Capri nostalgia celebrations. You should also pay a visit to the lovers. excellent Morgan website at http:// This month we have also received samples www.morgan-motor.co.uk for more details of of the 1/24th scale digital version of the 23729 the history of this marque. Chevrolet Gran Sport #2 from Sebring 1965 Well, as samples of the Morgan Plus 8 and looking very smart in Blue and White and in 1/ Morgan Aeromax were to hand I thought that 32nd Evolution form the Volkswagen Golf GTi we might take a closer look at the two recently ‘Tuner 4’ and a couple of Morgans, of which released Carrera replicas. more later. Expect reviews of the Corvette and Both are supplied in the standard, huge, the Golf very soon. Carrera Evolution display case with spare pick- up brushes, guide and mirrors thoughtfully Morgan Plus 8 and Aeromax stowed in the rear compartment. You might remember last month that I Unfortunately my Aeromax sample was mentioned it was the 100th anniversary of missing the alternative guide so I had to raid my Morgan as a Car maker. It goes without saying Plymouth Fury for testing purposes. this is an excuse for some serious celebrating, As with my last Carrera track test I started➳

August 2009 17 Plus 8 it would have gone even better, add a pair of suitable tyres from the Ortmann stable and you would have a really nice, vice less car suitable for smaller tracks, a motor upgrade would handle the larger layouts. My only criticism of the Plus 8 is that the driver figure is fairly ‘plastic’ and could be improved otherwise a really nice model and a fun slot car. off by running the cars ‘out of the box’ except for the change of guide to suit my plastic ‘Sport’ track. Both cars were very smooth and would provide hours of fun on a small track – if you like that sort of thing! After about five minutes I stopped and removed the track magnets from both cars. Better, much better! The first thing that you notice after removing the body is that both cars have very ‘busy’ chassis. With neat plug and sockets connecting the guide wires and the motor wires to the reverse polarity switch and two bar magnets there is a lot to fit in. Much the same comments apply to the Both cars benefited from having the rear Aeromax except to say that the driver figure is tyres trued with a bit of sandpaper, any out of even more unbelievable, partly because he is round becomes much more apparent when the smoking a pipe! Would you really try to smoke track magnets are removed. a pipe in a high performance car like the Aero? The independent front stub axles are very Both cars are heartily recommended as good, far better than a certain Spanish something different for the collection. They manufacturer’s efforts and were smooth and certainly stand out amongst my (predominantly) wobble free. If I had added pieces of lead the Ferrari slot car collection. ■ same size as the huge bar magnets fitted to the

18 Lancia Delta S4 By Gareth Jex

have never met any rally fan who can pilot was trying to survive” he went on to say honestly say that the Delta S4 is a beautiful that only one man did master the car – Henri Ior stylish car, but I think most would agree Toivonen and ultimately he lost his life in the S4! it was one of the most evil! The S4, in my We talk about point and squirt in slot racing opinion represented the pinnacle of Group B, and the comparison is totally appropriate for the but at the same time was simply too much and S4, on the straight it was brutal both in ultimately brought a premature end to one of acceleration and braking, but come the the most exciting periods of modern day inevitable twist and turns it was not pretty. It rallying. had to be forced to turn. The untimely death of Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto “S4 kills Group B” at the 1986 Corsica Rally when the car left the Conceived in answer to the threat from the road and burst into flames robbed the world of latest 4-wheel drive from the Germans (Audi) a fantastic talent and whilst not the only incident the S4 replaced the Lancia Rally 037 two-wheel with Group B, it was the final straw for most and drive car that had performed so well. 4 Cylinder, the FIA called time on Group B soon after. It’s 16 valve, 1759cc engine with supercharger and no surprise then that the S4 won just 4 WRC turbocharger the official stated bhp was 450, but events and helped Fabrizio Tabaton to win the most commentators thought a much higher European Championship in ’86. figure was realistic. The car sounds like it’s In some ways it’s understandable that this moving at 100 miles and hour simply sitting at car has not been produced as a RTR by any slot the lights, no wonder it was quicker off the line manufacturer before, I don’t count the resin (on the loose) than contemporary F1 cars of the Teamslot version (it’s not exactly accurate and day. that’s being polite), but it’s one of the few Introduced to the world championship at mainstream Group B cars left and I’m very the 1985 RAC Rally it stunned the world and pleased they chose the S4 and in my opinion Lancia by coming first and second on its first they have done it justice. event. Considered by many to be one of the I’m disappointed that SCX have launched hardest cars to drive, few conquered it and no this car in the, frankly, obscure livery of Fabrizio one really controlled it on tarmac As Michel Tabaton when Spanish Altaya customers are Lizin commented “the car was driving and the able to get the very popular works Lancia/ ➳

August 2009 19 Martini. I suspect, but don’t know, that there will and checks. Off with the body via five screws, be a more popular livery in the future , let’s hope snip off the electrical blobby thing between the so. That said, it’s not an unattractive livery and motor terminals, oil the bearings and grease the probably not that easy to get right. Black is OK, gears. Onto the rolling road at 5V for a few but Gold is tricky and comparing the model to hours in one direction and few hours in the the few photos I could find of the real car and reverse. The noticeable difference in noise it’s very close. When I saw early prototype normally gives you a good idea if things are photos on the model I was concerned that the going in the right direction, but to be honest this entire front end of the car did not look right, I car was quieter than most SCX 4x4’s that I have suspect SCX Lancia Delta models had been run in with the RX91 motor turning easily. Next used as a basis for the mock up, but thankfully I trued the rear wheels/tyres, not taking them to the finished model is spot on. Paint and printing slicks, but not far from it. The fronts are slightly quality is very good, logos crisp and well trickier to true without removing the axle from positioned. Some of the edges of the gold stripes the car and considering that very little actual are a little soft, but not many. The interior is pull comes from the front I simply took the edge OK, the engine detail is a little spartan, driver off the tyres, in truth I should have paid more and co driver could do with a little more attention to the fronts. attention to detail. A spot of paint to represent Hopefully it goes without saying that the the faces would be better. magnet was removed prior to running. On the As you may have seen elsewhere in this Farnham Ninco track the few laps I did gave me month’s Journal, I recently attended the Wye confidence with the ease of running, initial looks Valley Slot Rally event in June and I used the do give the impression that the car is top heavy, event as a test bench for this review. Prior to the but I didn’t find this at all. The car is fast, not event I performed my usual SCX running in ‘Spirit’ Group B fast, but fast enough and controllable through the corners, allowing you to find limits quite quickly. I did find the front had a tendency to lift out of the slot with tight changes of direction and decided to add 5g of lead centrally just behind the front drive (under the shaft), this certainly helped. At the Slot Rally the car performed well on all track surfaces except the Ninco raid and those tracks with elevation changes. On the level surfaces the car was very smooth, easy to control and a real pleasure, however on tracks with hill, dips and uneven surfaces the car struggled.

20 Looking closely at the guide flag there simply was not enough travel in the guide (up and down) I tried to adjust the brass terminals to apply more pressure onto the braid, but it didn’t seem to help. This S4 uses the latest version of the SCX sprung guide and whilst I know some don’t like the older version with the long brass straps, but this version does not seemto be an improvement. Perhaps it was just my car, but there is not enough travel or pressure to make a sprung guide. I have never seen the need to hard wire the SCX cars in the past, but I’m tempted on the S4. In most cases this will not be an issue, as few will use the car on anything but normal style tracks etc.

A quick look at the results from Wye Valley does tend to indicate that the problem may have been on my car or perhaps just me! Whilst I only managed to finish 7th in class another SCX S4 finished 2nd, so more testing required? To conclude it’s a great slot car and a fine model of a beasty Group B. I look forward to adding more SCX liveries to my collection. Oh and just in case you were wondering – I paid for the car! ■

August 2009 21 ScaleScalextricxtric TTeameam IrelandIreland A1A1 GPGP CarCar By Sinclair Trotter was very impressed when Scalextric issued to reproduce, with my limited painting skills, the first of their A1 cars, namely Team GB and finally settled on the 2005/2006 livery as Iand Team France, so much so that I the easier option. purchased one of each of all ten liveries on offer I acquired a Team Canada car (as it has the as they became available. least amount of printing on a white body shell) We have raced these as a class quite often at and set to work with a soft cloth and T-cut to our club and find they make for fast, close and remove as much of the tampo printing as exciting racing. possible. Living in Northern Ireland I took an interest The next step was to take the car to pieces in how Team Ireland performed in the 1:1 scale and wash all the plastic bits in hand warm water version of the championship, and hoped that with some washing up liquid, using an old soft Scalextric would eventually grace us with a bristled tooth brush for scrubbing in the fine Team Ireland car. detail lines. This helps to prepare the car for When the proposed further A1 car releases painting. were all cancelled for this year, it became I use regular acrylic car spray paints for my obvious that this was not going to happen and model repaints (it’s important to note that if I were to ever have a Team Ireland car with acrylic paints are safe to use on plastic and which to thrash the opposition in our club racing enamels are definitely not as they tend to warp I would have to take matters into my own hands. the plastic). I looked initially at the 2009 team livery and As I don’t have a large workshop area for decided this would be far to complicated for me painting, I do all my work in my back garden in

22 done on the body, the orange segments on the the open, ideally on a dry calm day (Once I tried side wings. These I did with a small paint brush, to do a paint job on a windy day, and managed again using acrylic paint and applying three to turn the white polo shirt I was wearing into coats. The other things brush painted were the a white and blue polo shirt. The household drivers’ helmet, the centre nuts on the wheels authorities were not amused). and the cockpit detail. I have a very sophisticated piece of This now left me with the problem of equipment for holding the object to be painted detailing the bodywork, team logo, national flag i.e. a used fizzy drinks bottle partially filled with etc. Fortunately I know someone who runs her water, with a lump of blue-tac stuck on the lid, own business producing signage for full sized onto which the body shell is jammed. I have also vehicles and she reckoned they could help me learned with experience that it is useful to insert out in 1:32 scale. Using an amazing piece of the hand that will hold said bottle into a computer wizardry they were able to scale down disposable glove prior to painting operations all the stripes and logos, their machinery even commencing (Yes once upon-a-time I had a blue guillotined the emblems on the sheet for me, and hand that matched my blue and white polo they proved very easy to apply using a scalpel shirt). and a pair of tweezers. This process however Anyway back to the painting, as the overall was not cheap, so to make it a viable proposition body colour was to be a fairly dark green I used I ended up painting another 11 Team Canada a grey coloured primer as a base. I applied two cars into Team Ireland colours, with the coats of primer, the primer seals the plastic intention of selling the extras to help cover my surface and allows the paint better adhesion. costs. One of the great things about using acrylics is The last thing to do before rebuilding the car that each application is touch dry in about 10 was to apply three coats of a clear acrylic minutes so a whole paint job can be done in a lacquer (this protects the logos when the car is relatively short time. handled). Next I applied two coats of green paint all I was pleased with the outcome, even though over the body shell. I then left the shell to dry for what started out as a one-off seemed to get a bit an hour, because the next step involved masking out of hand when these 11 body shells stuck on the green bits to overspray with white. Once the empty drinks bottles took over our dining room masking tape was all in place I applied three table for several weeks, but judge the results for coats of white paint and left the paint to dry yourselves from the pictures I’ve included. thoroughly overnight. In my experience it is best Thanks to my long suffering wife for putting to allow a good time for a second colour to dry up with yet another of my Scalextric projects before removing masking tape as you run less of and to our NSCC Journal editor Jeremy for his a risk of peeling paint off by accident. invitation to allow me to share my Team Ireland This left only one last bit of paintwork to be project with you all. ■

August 2009 23 quiet month this time with very little 1/32nd scale cars once I get to try them out. Also new stuff, however by the time you read new is the Powerslot Lola T298 these being the A this hopefully AA Bodies will have their #74 Banco Occidental sponsored bright orange BRM and March Can-Am body kits for sale car driven by Jean Claude at the 1979 complete with decals and inlet trumpets. (I will Montserrat Hill Climb and the #1 Repsol get round to building mine honest folks). sponsored blue machine of four times European Protoslot Kit should also have their new CB050 Mountain Champion Ander Viliano. Both cars Porsche 917 LH Gulf Team Wyer – London look nice enough and my Repsol example is no racing show 1969 and CB051 Porsche 917 Piper world-beater when it comes to performance on / Attwood Kyalami 9 Hours 1969 winner on Wolverhampton’s routed tracks but Powerslot do sale in the U.K. in kit and RTR forms. Also seem to be improving slightly with each new hopefully TRRC will be close with the Gordini release. The final newbie I’ve got my paws on Simca type 8 mentioned last month. this month is the Cartrix Bugatti T251 #8 There is one or two new plastic RTR’s driven by Trintingant at the 1956 French Grand available with Auto Art issuing their first Alfa Prix at Rheims. Qualifying a lowly 18th the car Romeo Giulia GTAM this being the #154 car was the third retirement of the race going out of Betzler a contender in the 1971 DRM series. with jammed throttle slides. This was pretty They also have two versions of their new BMW much the start and finish of the Bugatti’s front M3 GTR as raced at the Nurburgring in 2005 line career as Trintingant drove for Vanwall in these being the #1 car of J. Muller / D. Muller several of the remaining Grand Prix of that year / Stuck / Lamy and the #2 car piloted by Lamy and the futuristic Bugatti with its transverse / Said / Huisman / Priaulx. Both new releases mounted rear straight 8 cylinder engine died look rather attractive but I will let you know if due to lack of development money. A nice they handle any better than previous Auto Art addition to the Cartrix range however and as

Powerslot Lola T298 Repsol

24 Cartrix Bugatti T251 previous the model is mounted on a plastic remaining two are Fun Cup Beetles a shocking display plinth in a presentation tin with cleaning Pink CATS sponsored #98 machine and a white cloth. As a runner mine seemed on a par most and blue TDI – Blue Motion #351 car. of the previous Cartrix classics albeit the That’s it for this month, so until next time Mercedes W196 still seems the best runner. keep it in the groove. ■ Sadly this month, unfortunately I’m reduced to repaints of existing models although one that caught my eye was actually a custom liveried Slot It Alfa 33/3 produced by my friend Chris at Slotcar Unique in beautiful Gulf fantasy livery, if you’ve not seen Chris’s work close up then I advise you do so as it truly is stunning. Another different livery is a new clear- bodied 1/24th scale midget dirt car from E.J.’s Hobbies over in America, limited to just 25 if you want one I suggest you get on the e-mail to them straight away. B.R.M. has announced a re- livery of their 1/24th Porsche 962 this being the Brun #7 Jagermeister sponsored car, which will surely be popular. Team Slot have announced the Audi A1 Quattro in #2 Belga sponsored colours from the 1983 Boucles De Spa Rally and I assume this is the winning machine driven by Duez / Lux. Finally Revell Monogram have announced three repaints the first being the #100 Mercedes Benz 300SE from Spa in 1964, while the

August 2009 25 TheThe 3rd3rd AnnualAnnual SummerSummer ClassicClassic 20092009 By Pete Shepherd

his was the third annual running of the Summer Classic and it took place at TSouthend Slot Car Club, Essex. The event is aimed at Vintage slot cars in both 1/32 and 1/24 scale. 1/32 were Pre 66 GT’s competing for the ‘Giotto Bizzarrini’ Cup (my favourite car is the Iso Grifo A3/C designed by the great Giotto). 1/24 was open to Pre 67 Sports and GT racing for the ‘Colin Chapman’ Trophy (I’m a huge Lotus nut too). All the cars were required to use vintage parts, when I say 1/32 Grid vintage I mean genuine 1960s parts, no “retro” cars were allowed such as the ones used at Mercedes, it was a bit like the Tourist Trophy at Wolves events. The types of cars racing this year Goodwood but not worth quite as much! The included famous 1960s slot car manufacturers heats were entertaining and it was quickly such as Monogram, Revell and Cox to name but becoming obvious what and who were quickest. a few. The Ferraris were fast and always in the mix The day started with a practice session so including 250 GTOs, 250 LM 64’s and a David the drivers could get used to the Ninco track and Piper 250LM. Although, they weren’t having it its very bumpy surface. This lasted for around 2 all there own way. The Americans were in town hours; we then started racing on the 4-lane and with their V8 power, several Corvette Stingrays were right in their mirrors. My lonesome Iso Grifo A3/C was going well and I hope I made Giotto proud. We finished the heats and it ended up like this: Joel Thura Revell Ferrari 250GTO Alan Shawe Revell Corvette Stingray and Mercedes 300SL Pete Shepherd Monogram chassis with fibreglass body Iso Grifo A3/C Colin Nicholls Revell Corvette Stingray Gray Skipp Monogram Ferrari 250LM 1/24 Grid Phil Smith Monogram Ferrari 250 LM 64’ track. Each competitor raced on all four lanes Lewis Nicholls Revell Corvette Stingray and we then calculated the results and ran Peter Solari Monogram Ferrari 250 ladder finals. LM 64’ The grids looked superb with a variety of Mark Nicholson Revell Corvette Stingray Ferraris, Cobras, Stingrays, Iso Grifo and Colin Spark Revell AC Cobra

26 myself in the Iso and Gary in the 250LM a long way ahead. The chase was on and after about 6 laps Joel was right on my tail with Gary not far behind. I kept with Joel for a few laps but then I was too late on the brakes and Joel went through in the GTO. Whilst we battled it out Alan made up lots of ground and got past Gary and myself. Joel then had an accident 1 lap from the end and ended up with Alan alongside him! Joel tried to out brake him on the same corner which I’d had trouble with and off he went too Colin Spark’s Revell AC Cobra leaving the Gullwing to claim victory, well done Alan. Onto the 1/24 cars and this was run in the Bob Rackham Revell Ferrari 250 GTO same way as the 1/32 competition, heats then John Roche Monogram Ferrari 250 ladder finals. Again there were some beautiful LM machines on display but not just GTs Sports cars After a quick lunch break we started the were also being driven. This time some of the finals, from each of these one driver would then slot cars were slightly more exotic and included move up. We started with the D final and this Cox, K+B and Strombecker. The grid included was convincingly won by Peter Solari in the Lotus, Ford GT40s, Chaparral, Cheetah, more quick and nimble 250 LM 64’. He moved into Ferraris and even a Scarab. the next final and guess what? He won that too! With the heats underway, racing was full of Phil Smith also moved through due to Vic Bettal incident with plenty of crashing and paint pulling out after the heats. The B final was next trading. There was a bigger variety of cars being and this was very close with everyone having used as racers seemed keen to exercise their 1/ similar lap times, Gary Skipp came out on top 24, usually left sitting on the shelf. Once again and took his 250 LM through to the A final. the Ferraris seemed to be dominating but a few Ferraris had won all the finals so far and Joel was other cars were also looking good including a the favourite. Alan then pulled out a Revell Cox Cheetah, Cox/kit body Ford GT40 and a Mercedes 300SL from nowhere, would it be fast Lotus Élan. The heats were run and ended with or would the Ferraris continue to dominate? the following results: The race started and everyone made it Joel Thura Cox Chassis Kit body through the first few corners. As we all went over Ferrari Dino Coupe the bridge Joel and Alan then collided and left Lewis Nicholls Carrera Ferrari Dino Spyder Alan Shawe Cox Chassis Kit Body Ford GT40 Peter Solari Cox Ferrari Dino Spyder Pete Shepherd Cox Cheetah, Cox GT40 and K+B chassis Kit body Lotus Élan Phil Smith K+B Ferrari 250 LM 64’ and Revell Lotus 23B John Roche Monogram Ferrari 275P Colin Nicholls Revell Corvette Stingray Mark Nicholson Cox chassis Kit body Phil Smith’s Monogram Ferrari 250 LM 64’ Ferrari 275GTB

August 2009 27 The author’s scratchbuilt Lotus Élan Joel’s 2nd place Revell Ferrari 250 GTO Colin Spark Cox Chaparral 2C So this was it, the ‘Colin Chapman’ trophy Bob Rackham Strombecker Lotus 30 was up for grabs and the grid lined up with Joel and Revell AC Cobra ➳ Thura on pole, young Lewis in 2nd, Alan Shawe As the D final started we had a few less 3rd and myself 4th. Off we went and right away racers so 2 people stepped up. Colin Spark had the pole man Joel and the young hotshot Lewis borrowed a different controller and what a were having a dice leaving the Cheetah and difference it made! He finished a healthy second GT40 trailing. Lewis led all the way, Joel finished with the other Colin taking the win. Onto the C 2nd, Alan 3rd and myself 4th. Congratulations to final, again 2 would go through and this was a Lewis. very close race with everyone finishing within 1 lap. Colin snuck through in second with John Roche taking the flag in the 275P Ferrari. I found myself in the B final with my newly prepared Cox Cheetah, which had been going surprisingly well. I was up against Peter Solari with his very glamorous Ferrari Dino Spyder! The race got underway and the Cheetah and Dino took each other out early on the first lap, so as before the chase was on and both the Dino and Cheetah were never a foot apart. We Alan Shawe’s Scrathbuilt Ford GT40 managed to catch the Chaparral and 275P and much to my relief the Dino had an off and left I would highly recommend vintage racing to me to win the B final and move into the A final. anyone considering it. It’s quickly becoming cheaper than modern racing with the prices of new cars getting higher and higher, there are new events always emerging across the U.K. as this type of racing becomes more popular. Cars can be easily bought from U.K. dealers, swapmeets and eBay (eBay U.S. is especially good for bargains). The biggest attraction for me is the look of the cars particularly the GTs, I love the way they handle; they’re real drivers’ cars. Enormous satisfaction can be achieved from getting them to perform well, so what is stopping you? ■ Cox Ferrari Dino Spyder driven by Peter Solari

28 i Folks, last time I brought you news of some exciting tuning parts and Hequipment from Slot.It, well there’s more and I have some pictures, plus a review of the latest Slot.It Nissan 390.

New Professional Extractor Press SP20

come with diagrams and instructions of how to fit it to enable your Slot.It car to iron out even the bumpiest of tracks. New Angle winder Chassis 509t –AW1 for Now let us turn our attention to Slot. Its Porsche 956KH latest release this being the C14a Nissan 390 GT1 #32 car in the Le Mans pre-qualifying First up is news of two new tuning chassis for livery from 1998. One of four similar cars to the Porsche 956KH and 956C the former is qualify for the event the #32 was one of the➳ reference C509t - AW1, while the second is reference C502t - AW1. Please make sure when ordering these that you are getting the correct one as they will only fit the correct bodies, my advice is talk to specialist stockists such as Pendle, Slot City or Slot Box as they will know exactly which one you need. Now you will be able to set these two Slot.It classic cars up as top of the line angle-winders, which many of the best racers seem to favour. Next up is a picture of the new SP20 Professional Extractor Press designed for removing and fitting pinions, etc. I could use one of those myself (hint, hint) as my old Ninco one is looking very worse for wear these days. Rounding out the parts is a picture of the new CH47 Spring Suspension Kit, which looks very New Spring Suspension Kit CH47 complicated to a simple chap like me, but does

August 2009 29 two Nissan Motor Sports Japan entries, while with red rear wing, air intakes and mirrors. the other two were entered in collaboration with Tampo printing is of Slot. It’s normal excellent Astec-TWR. quality with no evidence of any blur or bleeding The #32 machine was piloted by F1 driver on the crisp sharp graphics. Positioning of the Aguri Suzuki along with Nissan regulars detail printing seems spot on to the pre- Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Masahiko Kageyama qualifying cars with darker blue Nissan, Nismo, and finished the race proper a magnificent third Bridgestone, TWR and drivers names. There overall, beating the #30 and #31 TWR run are white Nissan logos on the screen and rear cars, which took 5th and 6th places and the sister wing as well as the racing board and Japanese #33 car which finished 10th. There was also a flag areas, red to finish off the Japanese flags and fifth car slated to take part at Le Mans for Nissan O’s in Nismo along with the body catch release that year bearing the #34 although this car did markers and finally black 32 racing numbers. not take part in pre-qualifying for reasons best The body moulding is well detailed with correct known to Nissan themselves. In qualifying itself air intakes, heat vents, NACA ducts, and exhaust the #32 car wound up setting a time of 3:42.397 outlets. Headlights, spotlights and screens all which saw it line up 14th on the grid behind the have correct black coloured surrounds, the rear #30 car (10th) and #31 car (13th) but ahead of wing and support appear sturdy without looking the #33 car (19th) although all four entries were too chunky as they can sometimes do on 1/32nd a long way off the pole time of 3:35.544 of the scale slot cars. Wiper, aerial, side exhausts, #35 Mercedes Benz CLK piloted by Schneider refilling point, black wire intake, vent grilles and / Ludwig and Webber. red towing points all add extra detail to this fine On to the Slot.It version then and the car looking model. bears the very pale blue body colour as seen on Inside there is a well detailed cockpit the real car during the pre-qualifying sessions, including a reasonably accurate driver in

Nissan 390 Le Mans Qualifying car 1998

30 Rear view showing engine detail through back screen.

Suzuki’s race suit and helmet colours, while through the rear screen the Nissan twin turbo motor is visible complete with Nissan Power logo’s printed on both cam covers. The body is located by two screws, and the removable motor pod by four, with an offset in- The Nissan’s standard running gear & Interior line set up as standard, there is however detail. provision to fit an angle winder if desired. Axles are standard Slot.It front and back with alloy up the Nissan struggled, the rear tyres offered rear rims located by grub-screw on the rears and little grip, and occasionally span off the rims, nylon front rims, with push in BBS type inserts while the standard guide simply isn’t deep with red centre nut printing. Tyres are pre- enough for our routed tracks. (Although it was printed P1’s with the white Bridgestone side wall perfectly fine at home on my small Ninco track logos. As ever Slot.It kindly supply a set of softer as were the tyres aided by the magnetic compound rear tyres for the more competitive downforce). I struggled to achieve less than 10 racers. The guide is a standard SICH10 Slot.It seconds per lap, which even for me is slow. Next type with the steel braids and silicone wires carry I cheated swapping the rears for trued and glued power back to the V12/3 21,500 rpm. in-line sticky P6’s and the guide for the deep wood one motor. The drive pinion is a 9 tooth in-line with more suited to the Wolves tracks. Much a white and bronze SIG27/bz offset in-line 27 improved quickly knocking the times down in to tooth crown gear. There is also the normal bar the low eight seconds, which again for me isn’t magnet between the motor and crown gear, bad these days. I’m sure a real racer like young although as I run mainly on copper tape tracks Lewis could chop a second off my times without it is somewhat superfluous for me. All in all a doing anything else to the car, and by switching decent specification although compared to the to angle winder form with a hotter motor could very serious racers who use Slot.It angle-winders get down into the low to mid six second bracket. such as we showed last time with the Audi However she’s quick enough for me as she is and Reloaded you’d need to make some changes for pretty enough to be added to my ever growing this car to be super-quick to those kinds of collection of Slot.It cars, keep up the good work standards. Maurizio! Finally on to the Wolves international track Finally, thankyou to A.G. Bee Limited for and here I must admit that with the standard set providing the review car. ■

August 2009 31 he first of the new XLOT range of cars from Ninco are ready for release in the Tbody style of the Porsche 997. I have been lucky enough to get my hands on one of the first models into the U.K. and have visited a few clubs giving racers the chance to “test drive” this new evolution in slot cars.

XLOT is HERE! These new models are presented in a nicely designed crystal clear case allowing all-round viewing of the car, which sits on a small cross- member base. The case separates along the you to find the limits of the current set-up before vertical centre line and the base opens up to experimenting with some adjustments to see if reveal a combination of tools required for tuning lap times can be improved. A few tweaks such as the car. fixing the motor further into the chassis to reduce the magnetic attraction to the rails and moving it further from the rear axle, tightening the belt drive and so improving braking made noticeable differences to the car’s handling. XLOT really does take slot cars into a new dimension with this new chassis design giving everyone the same starting platform making the individual’s skills in setting up and racing a true determining factor in winning a race. This year’s

It is agreed that the chassis design is just about as versatile as it gets with endless possibilities for tuning the car, not just to the track, but also to the racer’s individual driving style. Ride-height, down-force, axle-movement and even braking are just some of the critical factors that can be influenced through tuning. On track, the car instantly feels at home giving very sure-footed feedback encouraging

32 Ninco World Cup will give international teams NC-5 ‘Speeder’ motors power these Ninco the chance to show just how good their skills are, “Sport” cars from an angle-winder position bringing this already successful annual event which I imagine will seriously challenge the even closer to full-size competition racing. As Mosler in the GT class. True scale proportions, well as competing at 1/32nd scale, teams will take attention to every detail and a superb finish to part in the first XLOT World Championship each car are assured. event. ... but not without a fight! It’s a Ford one-two... Although I believe the Ford GT3 will be This summer sees the release of another extremely quick on the racetrack, the current totally new body and chassis from Ninco. With GT favourite will not go down without a fight. the prototype first seen at this year’s Toy Fair, the Since the Mosler was introduced, it became a sleek Ford GT generated great interest. Now the popular choice for racers in endurance and GT wait is over and two liveried versions of this categories. It has appeared in race-spec guises GT3 competitor become available; both are before and now another ‘Lightened’ version is produced in eye-catching liveries of two separate available. The Mosler “Nextel” Lightened sponsors of the Matech GT3 version of this (50545) is released with some special iconic racecar. The ACM (Advanced Currency modifications such as transparent ProRace Markets) sponsored car is released under the chassis, lightweight Lexan interior, adjustable “Matech Dubai” name (50549) and will be ProRace screws and silicone cables. closely followed by the Sintez sponsored “Matech ADAC” (50532) version. The full size NSCC Club Car 2009 is here!! cars had their debut in 2007 with the Matech All those who have sent in your order forms team taking the FIA GT3 European Teams for this years’ NSCC Club Car have been Championship in 2008. This year Matech allocated one of just five hundred of these racing have entered the Ford into the 24-hours exquisite slot-cars. Guaranteed to be a future of Spa, the most prestigious GT race on the classic, the first of these little gems will be calendar. Time will show how successful this car distributed at Brooklands... I look forward to is in both full-size competitions as well as in 1/ seeing you there! ■ 32nd!

August 2009 33 NSCCNSCC ClubClub AccountsAccounts By Shaun Bennett STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 1st April 2008 to 31st October 3008

Income £ Expenditure £

Memberships 1,827.25 Journal Printing & Posting 10,428.75 Sale of Journal Binders 167.50 Journal Envelopes 128.31 NSCC/Hornby Weekend 8,145.00 Address Labels 113.53 Weekend Raffle/Auction 3,550.50 Envelope Printing 233.83 Trade Advertising in Journal 890.00 Journal Binders 369.89 2008 Skoda Club Car 9,928.95 Annual Review Printing 159.80 2006 Megane Club Car 30.00 Expenses/Room Hire 1,290.17 Eastleigh Swapmeet 645.50 Eastleigh Swapmeet 329.00 NSCC Polo Shirts 20.00 NSCC/Hornby Weekend 7,582.29 Bank Interest 30.98 Weekend Charity Donation 3,550.50 Interest on Capital Reserve Ac. 104.32 2008 Club Car 9,738.40 2008 Club Car Ltd Ed. Cards 279.06 2008 Club Car Postage 993.96 NSCC Archive Car Insurance 189.00 Bank Charges 285.75 Misc 67.23

25,340.00 35,739.47 Summary

Brought Forward 2007/8 Accounts

Current Account 17,515.77 Excess expenditure over income 10,399.47 Capital Reserve Account 11,224.60 Cash In Hand 347.59 Club Funds at 31/03/08 29,087.96 Club Funds at 31/10/08 18,688.49

The Committee agreed to move the Club’s advertising income but a lot of expenditure. It accounting year from April to March to therefore shows a substantial “loss”. In fact it is November to October. This has necessitated no different to any other year in this respect. The producing an account for the 7 month period key figure is the value of the Club funds at the between April and October 2008. This is shown end of October, which is broadly where it would above. be expected to be before we start to collect the The reason for the change was to give a income for the following year. more accurate representation of the Club’s Other notes: financial situation. In April, we would expect to i) 2008 Skoda Club Car Income includes have received the bulk of that year’s income (for members’ payments to cover postage and membership and advertising) but have only packing for some of the cars. produced 3 issues of the Journal. So the account ii) In 2009, Journal Printing costs have reduced in April held about 90% of that year’s income as we now print fewer surplus copies. and barely 25% of its expenditure. iii) Since October, we have sold more Journal As a consequence of the above, this 7 month binders and Club Skodas (and have stocks account has very little membership and remaining), which will show profit in the 2008/ 2009 accounts. ■

34 BuildingBuilding aa FibreglassFibreglass CarCar By Clive Mills

irstly I must apologise for the delay. This second part of the build was lost in the Fether but luckily I still had the photos stored. Several people have inquired about mounting chassis to scratch build cars, there are several ways of doing this, and different people have their own way of going about this (dark secret). I do not state that this is the only way to fit the body, but this is how I go about the job. The chassis that I am using for this is one of the super brass kits from Penelope pitlane.

The first thing is to align the wheels to the arches using a small piece of card to allow clearance for the wheels to clear the arches. Using a small scrap of plastic, place this

These kits are supplied with full instructions and are very easy to build. All standard motors and running gear simply clip into place. As you will see, I have used a Scalextric motor axles and wheels, with Ninco tyres and guide. through the mounting hole to touch the body. Mark this and that will give the approx height of the mounting post to be cut. For the posts, I use plastic tube which is available from most model shops. This is purchased in lengths of about 12” and will make many cars. This needs to be just large enough for a Scalextric screw to bite into. To ensure some strength it is advisable to use a double thickness. This is done by sliding a larger tube over the first. Glue the outer tube to the inner and cut slightly longer than the marked piece of plastic. Wind the screws in and out of the tube a couple of times. This will ensure that they hold, but ➳

August 2009 35 final adjustment. It may be advisable to put a thin piece of card between the tyres and arches to ensure clearance. Leave the complete car for a few hours before undoing the screws.

are not tight as once the tube is glued to the body, the screws come undone without breaking the mounts away. Believe me you learn from your mistakes. The next thing is to screw the mounting tubes to the chassis, with a small drop of oil on The mounts will now be secure in the body, the screws, this allows them to be unscrewed so carefully unscrew the chassis from the body. easily, and then this is laid into the body. The mounts can be left as they are, or a lot more strength is given by adding braces with some more adhesive laid around the base of the post. This may sound to be a lot of mucking

Trim the length of the posts until the wheels just clear the arches and turn freely. Once you are happy. The time has come to commit yourself and get the Araldite out. Clean the about to some people, but once you try and inside of the body to ensure that the Araldite succeed in building your own car. You will think, gets a good firm grip. Mix the glue and put a why didn’t I try this before? smear onto the inside of the body where the If you were using one of the plastic PS32 mounts will fit, I then put a blob of glue onto the Chassis, the rear mount can be fitted easily with end of the post, ensuring that it does not run up a section of square plastic glued across the rear the inside and glue the screws into the tube. Lay of the body, as this type of chassis has two the chassis into the body ensuring that the mounting screws at the rear. wheels are lined correctly in the arches. The Next month we get to the real fun of adhesive will go off in a few minutes, but until painting the body, adding details and best of all. ■ it is hard there is a couple of minutes to allow Running a car that you have built.

36 email: [email protected] s we enter the school summer holiday month. You know the ones with the “W” spares time and what is usually a traditionally numbers and Scalextric header card on the A quieter time of year the U.K. listings plastic bag. I find it rather interesting and have fallen slightly to just over the 10,000 mark. unpredictable how some items fetch barely their However this fall is perhaps not as much as that 99p starting price one day yet others tend to seen in previous years in percentage terms so it fetch a price, which is enough to buy a modern will be interesting to see whether this trend mint car on another. Just to show the difference continues and if buyers and sellers are perhaps one listing with 6 loose formula junior brushes holding back for the big Swapmeet at on Monday night made £15.51 whilst a another Brooklands to do their trading. day saw a whole pack of 12 still in the bag sold One interesting theory put to me this month for the equivalent of less than a £1 each. (thanks Steve) as to why perhaps things were Similarly packs of 12 guides also made around quietening down trade wise on Sunday evenings the £1 mark per guide. Top money spent is the fact that many people may be watching though must have been for a single C81 Cooper “Top Gear” on the television rather than staring chrome exhaust at £9.21 and where on another at the computer screen, as the new series has day you could have got a whole car for that kind started these past few weeks at what was prime of money. time slot shopping time on Sunday evening. Following on from previous observations on Maybe something worth thinking about if your Scalextric pit boards earlier in the year, a auction is ending in that time frame and you are selection of 7 with names of Vanwall, Porsche, hoping to get a good price for your collectable Lotus, Ferrari, Maserati, Lister-Jaguar and and you have not put a reserve on it. Anyone else Cooper made a healthy £47.46 on a Friday snapped up a “Top Gear” bargain? evening. The same seller also got £30 for 6 This month I have found out one interesting “ultra rare” green rubber bushes at the same little trick purely by chance really. Maybe it is time. Mind you 6 days earlier a single Lister- one you can use if you want to see who won an Jaguar board only made the £3.99 starting price auction as long, as you have bid on the auction. from the same person. If you use the advance search items function and NSCC put your own bidder name in the “search by Perhaps of interest to us NSCC members bidder” box and tick “completed listings” it were a couple of certificates from the NSCC seems to show you who won your auction as weekend in 1999 and 2000 but these only long as it was not a private auction. So my tip fetched the 99p starting price each this month is to get in with a small early bid if (110414932896). Also available from the same you want to find out who is winning those seller was a Hornby 2002 weekend auctions you may be losing out on. Mind you, be questionnaire, which did not attract any bidders prepared to buy the item if no one else comes in at 99p, which I suspect was because it would be with a bid! easy to photocopy and would be difficult to Spares prove an original item as the listing stated. Maybe it is just me, but there seem to be a Continuing the NSCC theme and something few more than usual of the older Scalextric that newer members may not be aware of that spares packs making an appearance this past was made for the club in the past, was a ➳

August 2009 37 MRRC brown Morris Mini Minor that made BUGATTI TYPE 59 L.E. SPANISH MINI- £77.03 on a Friday morning. This is rarely seen CLASSICS CLUB 96 £98.89 (Yellow LE of on eBay though there were 140 examples made. 150 on Sunday night) Whilst the more recent club cars continue to Scalextric Bentley 4.5 L Green C305 MB New attract good bids e.g. Minis at £75, Méganes at £118 (Well after Top Gear had finished on £100 and a Skoda at £72, the older Jag XJ220 Sunday night) went for a best offer of £25 with the poor old Fly Porsche 917 K C53 Le Mans Winner 1970 black Maestro just avoiding the wooden spoon #23 MB 1/32 £98.60 (Red one with white at £28. stripes on Sunday night) Prototypes 1960’S VINTAGE SCALEXTRIC TRI ANG There have been a few prototypes fetching CARS £311 (Loft find in poor condition but some big money this month though several looked like a red Fiat, Yellow Sunbeam amongst items went unsold at the high BIN prices. They the 10 cars on Saturday night 200360249867) are mainly of Spanish origin from a U.K. seller RARE TRIANG HORNBY MINIC - and those items finding a new home included an MOTORAIL SET - MINT IN BOX £205 (On orange Williams body on a Ligier chassis at Saturday night 130318069568) £600 and a couple of Ferrari F40 test shots that Scalextric/Triang Lotus C54 £155 (Yellow big made £430 and £550. On a more modest note head version with box. Excellent condition and one of our lucky members picked up an A1 GP excellent price for seller on Saturday night car with clear body, well it looked more like 270420717969) white in the picture on a Monday night for £26! 40 SCALEXTRIC CARS £150 (BIN on (130314853031) Moving on but not strictly a Saturday night. Took 41 mins to find a buyer for prototype but listed as one (seasoned eBayers this bargain lot but not me! Cars mostly boxed will remember a number of these body shells rally ones from various manufacturers from this being listed on eBay though), was a light blue decade 260444852416) plain Subaru made up into a car that made £36 007 Scalextric Set Box 1960s original £127 (Not on a Thursday morning. mint but colours not faded on Sunday afternoon Prices as listed and spelt on U.K. eBay unless 120444590175) stated, with the time and auction-ending day. Scalextric Collectable RANGE SCALEXTRIC A/224 RUBBER PADDOCK PRESENTATION ’09 Chaparral £73.77 (Just COMPLETE WITH ADAPTORS £72 (With after Top Gear on Sunday night) 2 Lister Jaguar and Ferrari name boards on Scalextric £59.06 (6 wheel March SCX LE box Monday night 300326421043) set on Sunday lunchtime 300329733674) SCALEXTRIC A/263 TROPHY SET AND Scalextric 840 of 1008 C2627 Dallara WINNERS WREATH MINTCARD £72 “Microchip” NIB £127.52 (NO Top Gear (Monday night 300326423358) bargain here!) VINTAGE SCALEXTRIC F300 TRACK SCALEXTRIC - C2149 FERRARI F40 OFFICIALS AND PIT CREWS £38.02 MINT AND BOXED £13.87 (Newcastle (Picture box with hole in cellophane on Friday football car during Top Gear - but was this down night Mechanics set fetched £36 same night and more to the fall from grace from the Premiership seller) for the Geordies?) 1967 SCALEXTRIC CATALOGUE WITH C360 MG Metro 6R4 Ternco Scalextric car PRICE LIST JAMES BOND £45 (Picture very rare £31.06 (Some damage on Sunday showed James Bond set with price list on a afternoon) Thursday morning. Hint for sellers there I SCALEXTRICS - Caterham 7 Silver Limited reckon! 250465822411) edition of 500 £56.55 (On Monday night. Gold Scalextric Collectable E5 C68 Aston Martin one listed at same time went for £3 less don’t DB4 GREEN!! £650 (No bidders at BIN price) think the spelling helped here) ■